Dot Flies of the Cloth Forest Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files

Instructions Students will work in groups of 3 in order to complete this lab. One person is in charge of the recording data and writing answers. The second person is in charge of the materials. The third person is in charge of reading the lab procedures and making sure that the group stays on task as the class goes along. Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files

Scenario 1 The ‘dot flies’ live in a colorful cloth forest. They can be many different colors. The ‘dot flies’ do not have any predators and live peacefully in their forest. Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files

Scenario 1 Questions What causes the dot flies to be different colors? What do we call these differences among species? Without any natural predators, does the color of the dot fly help its survival? Why or why not?

Scenario 2 One day, a few brave 7th grade scientists introduced a new species of lizard to the forest. The Gompers’ lizards, as they are called, eat dot flies. The Gompers’ lizards use their eyesight to spot the dot flies in the cloth forest. The Gompers’ Lizards hunt during the day, so their ability to see color is very important in helping them find the dot flies. Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files

Scenario 2 Prediction 1.Which dot flies do you think will be eaten first? Why? Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files

Scenario 2 Instructions Place 10 dots of each color on the cloth. When your teacher says ‘Go,’ eat as many dots as you can in 10 seconds. Be sure to eat the dots that you can see easiest first. Record the number of dots that survived for each color. Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files

Scenario 2 Data Chart Dot Fly Color RedPink OrangeYellow BlueWhite # of surviving flies # of offspring

Scenario 2 Questions Was your prediction in number 4 correct? Why or why not? Do you think that one color has an advantage over the other dot flies? Why or why not?

Scenario 3 Every dot fly that survived produces 2 babies. Place two baby dot flies on the cloth for every surviving parent. For example, if 4 pink dots survived, place 8 more total baby dot flies in the cloth forest. When your teacher says ‘Go,’ eat the dot flies again. Fill in the chart for the number of surviving dot flies for the first generation. Repeat this whole process for 4 generations. Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files

Scenario 3 Data Chart Dot Fly Color RedPinkOrangeYellowBlueWhite # of surviving flies- generation 1 # of surviving flies- generation 2 # of surviving flies- generation 3 # of surviving flies- generation 4

Final Results Explain the results of your experiment. What color of dot flies has the most survivors? Why and/ or how did this happen? Did one color of dot fly become extinct? Why or why not?

Big Idea! Explain how this lab can be viewed as an example of evolution? Natural Selection? Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files

Interpretation of Data 10. Make a line graph that illustrates the effect of the Rompers’ Lizard on the population of each color of fly over the four generations. Don’t forger a graph title and label the x and y axis. Image from Microsoft XP Clip Art Files